Ames will now get a second chance to prove her discrimination claims in federal court. The broader effect of Thursday's ruling, The New York Times said, is putting "further pressure on employers and others to eliminate affirmative action and other initiatives that seek to provide opportunities to members of historically disadvantaged groups."

The court ruled in favor of a woman who argued she was passed over for a promotion and demoted because she is straight.

The case comes at a particularly fraught time when it comes to the legal landscape of the workplace in general. A combination of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn affirmative action and Trump’s executive orders targeting affirmative action have made companies extra cautious about their programs and protocols around diversity initiatives.